Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler[English]

Butcher scratched the back of his neck and added in a low voice, “I know for a fact that the kid went to the City of Sin before he ever joined the Whisper Syndicate. I’m telling you… there’s definitely a connection.”

Riley studied his self-assured expression for a moment, then sighed.

“So what?” she said calmly. “Even if Axel orchestrated it—so what?”

Butcher opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again like a fish gasping for air. After a long pause, he muttered, somewhat aggrieved, “I just… I’m worried he’ll stir up something big. Something we can’t control.”

Riley pressed her fingers lightly to her forehead.

“He killed a Saint,” she said evenly. “Which means he’s most likely already a Level Six Awakened. He’s capable of bearing a certain degree of risk.”

She lowered her hand and looked at Butcher.

“If we panic every time he makes a bold move, we might as well lock him away in a greenhouse.”

“But what use is a greenhouse flower to our cause?” she added coolly.

Butcher opened his mouth to argue, then deflated.

“Fine. You’re right.” He exhaled. “It’s just… that kid is a walking disaster. I can’t help feeling uneasy.”

Riley adjusted her glasses.

“If he truly acted as the intermediary between Krythos and the City of Sin,” she said slowly, “then that would be nothing short of a miracle for the entire nation.”

Her gaze shifted northward, beyond the tall floor-to-ceiling windows.

“In that case… he’ll be returning to Everton soon.”

She stood, teacup still in hand, her figure reflected faintly in the glass.

“I wonder how much you’ll have grown by the time we meet again,” she murmured softly. “You’d better hurry.”

After all… I’ve already done everything I needed to.

Beneath the newspaper lay a thick document dense with technical terminology, stamped and signed with Riley’s name.

......

At the Whisper Syndicate headquarters, the atmosphere was far less composed.

“No way. That brat again?” Millers stared at the battle report in disbelief.

“Most likely,” Vince replied with a nod.

“Axel’s insane,” Phoenix said with a laugh, admiration undisguised in his voice.

Millers exhaled sharply. “Last time, he turned the City of Sin upside down. This time, he dragged the entire damn city north.”

“Last time?!” Humphrey nearly choked.

“Hmph. He’s always stirring shit,” Rosaline snorted, crossing her arms. But the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.

Only Kaia, ever observant, remained composed.

“Captain,” she asked quietly, “is there anything else?”

Vince’s expression dimmed slightly.

“There is,” he said. “If my sources are correct… Axel seems to be in a bit of trouble.”

.......

In a simple yet tidy room in Northern Spiritual Town, Axel lounged comfortably on a narrow bed, a newspaper spread across his lap.

“The report’s well written,” he said with exaggerated satisfaction. “But it seriously underplays my heroic contributions.” Sometimes he nodded approvingly. Sometimes he sighed dramatically in regret.

“You’ve lost that innocent, adorable look you had when you first joined,” Lilith said softly. She had returned to her original appearance, her voice carrying a faint teasing warmth. “It seems this department really does corrupt people.”

They were speaking at close range. And yet—

A thin pane of glass separated them. Fragile. Transparent. Revealing the absurd truth: they were not in the same room.

Axel was inside a prison cell.

“Different circumstances require different tactics,” Axel said, rubbing his temples with a faint smile. “I don’t have much time left to keep a low profile.”

He looked up at her. “After all… I’m already Level Six.”

Lilith’s eyes flickered. “I understand your reasons,” she said quietly. “But isn’t this too rushed? Level Six means nothing compared to what’s coming.”

Level Seven. The first realm to carry a true title—the Divine Might Realm. Only those who stepped into Level Seven were considered genuine core pillars of Krythos.

Lilith knew exactly what Axel was doing. He was deliberately stepping into the spotlight.

Since learning that his father was Liorael, she understood his intent. He wanted influence. Reputation. Authority. When the time came to clear Liorael’s name, he needed enough weight behind his words to shake the system itself.

“The Infected Faction already sees you as a thorn in their side,” she continued. “The more attention you attract, the more determined they’ll be.”

“They won’t act casually. But when they do…” Her gaze sharpened. “It will be to kill you. No half-measures.”

“I know,” Axel replied calmly. “It won’t take long for me to reach Level Seven. I don’t need to wait until then to start preparing.”

Lilith frowned slightly. “Axel… do you even understand how hard it is to break from Level Six to Level Seven?”

Axel only smiled. The stronger he became, the more he sensed the profundity of the Origin Tree. Its existence wasn’t just power—it was possibility. Opportunity. Insight.

The upheaval in Abyss. The mysterious spring at Moonlit Lake. That strange being called “Dharma.”

The world was shifting. And with the Origin Tree, he was confident he could seize what others couldn’t even perceive.

Lilith couldn’t see the full picture—but she could tell his confidence wasn’t blind arrogance. She sighed softly. “I envy you,” she admitted. “Your goal is already within reach.”

“I told you I’d help you,” Axel replied. He paused briefly. “And Annabelle too.”

“Heh. Worry about yourself first.” Lilith’s teasing tone returned as she quickly masked the rare trace of sincerity she’d revealed. “After all, listening to you talk so confidently… while sitting in a prison cell… is pretty damn funny.”

“Prison cell?” Axel scoffed. “This is obviously my private meditation chamber.”

Lilith pressed her lips together, about to retort—

Then her expression shifted. A knowing smile curved across her face. “Looks like there’s about to be a result,” she said lightly. “Good luck.”

The next second—

She vanished. No sound. No distortion. No trace.

Axel’s smile slowly faded. “Overlord Blood…” he muttered.

A terrifying awakening ability. By fusing her presence with the surrounding environment, Lilith could erase herself from perception entirely. No aura. No heat signature. Nothing.

An assassin who could appear beside your bed without you ever sensing her approach. Even now, Axel couldn’t help feeling a chill.

Moments later, footsteps echoed down the corridor outside his cell.

Not long after Lilith vanished, the door to the cell swung open.

“Axel, your day of judgment has finally arrived.” The one leading the group was a woman. The moment she saw him, her face twisted with undisguised disgust.

Axel glanced up lazily from the bed. “Zelda, I’ve been hearing that line for days,” he said with a sigh. “Couldn’t the Silverwyn family find an actual human being to talk to me?”

After the battle ended, Zoltan had personally ordered Axel detained on charges of “betraying his own people” and “inciting a beast tide.”

Officially, it was temporary custody. The trial would proceed once the “witness,” Zachariah, regained consciousness.

The speed of the process had shown Axel something very clearly—the Silverwyn family’s power within the military system ran deep.

The entire procedure had started almost immediately. No bureaucratic delays. No objections. Even the Whisper Syndicate hadn’t been able to block it.

Still, Axel wasn’t completely without allies. During his confinement, Isaac had secretly reached out, asking whether Axel needed help.

Axel had refused. He had his own plan.

During these days, Zelda had been assigned to monitor and interrogate him.

“Axel, all you’re good at is running your mouth,” Zelda said smugly. “Because the man you’re most afraid of has finally woken up.”

Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “When that happens, every bit of pain you caused Zachariah—I’ll make you repay it ten times over.”

Axel tilted his head slightly. “You really believe everything Zachariah said?”

Zelda snorted. “What a stupid question. Someone like you dares compare yourself to him?”

“If it weren’t for Zachariah, Northern Spiritual Town might have fallen already. He’s the real hero of Krythos.”

Axel watched her smug expression and chuckled softly. “Then I’m really looking forward to that moment.”